Portable coin collector for telephone systems



` Feb. 8, 1949. 'w P, JACKMAN 2,460,936

PORTABLE COIN COLLECTOR FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS Filed June 14, 1946 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 8, 1949 PORTABLE COIN COLLECTOR FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS v `Walter P. Jackman, Boonton, N. lJ., assignor to American Telephone and Telegraphv Company, a corporation of New York Application June 14, 1946, Serial No. 676,610

This invention relates to telephone systems land particularly to systems of :the type which provide facilities whereby telephone calls may be received and originated by means of portable equipment.

In many large institutions, particularly those which cater to the sick and disabled, facilities are provided which render it possible for patients to origina-te and receive telephone calls at their bed- 'sides Such facilities involve a portable telephone substation which may be plugged into ani7 one of a plurality of outlets which terminate' a telephone line at conveniently located positions near the patients beds. Heretofore, the patients making outgoing calls in this manner were billed at suitable intervals. This practice made it necessary for the local operator at the institution to record all such calls, and for the accounting' de partment of such institutions to prepare and submit for collection bills foreach individual .patient. In order to relieve the operators and accounting departments of such tasks and to otherwise accommodate the convenienceof the patients, it has been proposed -that bedside tele.- phone service be provided' on a prepayment basis.

It is the object of this invention to improve and otherwise simplify prepayment telephone systems of the type which provide telephone service through the medium of portableyequipment.

This object is attained .in accordance with a feature of the invention bythe provision of a portable coin collector which adaptsv itself Atothe usual central oflice'controls and which, atk the same time, precludes the possibility of the usual controls being circumvented. -`The usual coin collect and refund operations in a prepayment telephone system are initiated at the central office manually, in `the case of manually completed connections or automatically,l in the'case'of dial connections. In either case it is necessary that the connection from the central oflice to the coin disposal equipment at the subscribers station remain inta-ct until such coin disposal operations have taken place. Where such a connection includes manually controlled connectors, such'V as plugs and jacks, whereby the portable substation equipment is associatedwith a telephone line, 4it is possible for the portable unit to be disasseciated from the line before the deposited coins have been disposed of in the usual manner. When this occurs, the coins which have been Vdeposited as -toll for a call originated at the portable substation rernain inthe coin hopper without having been collected or returned as required. When' a subsequent call isi originated in :the usual 14 claims. (o1. 17e- 6.3)

manner and a refundoperation is performed at the central office, lall the coins in the hopper which includes those whichwere not disposed of at the termination of a previous call would be deposited in the return chute of the coin box f-or collection by the party making the subsequent call. To preclude this possibility, the Vpresent invention` provides means, in a portable coin collector, which functions automatically, in response to the dissociation-of the collectcr'fromthe line tocollect .the coins deposited in the coin box'if such'coi'ns had not previously been` disposedv lof in the usual'manner. To attain this objectivel the portable coin collector of this invention includes a vlocal source ofv coin collect battery and switching means "which operate incident to the' removal of the coin collector from the line to connect the ,coin disposal magnet, or relay, of the collector tothe batteryl whereupon the coin magnet, or relay, is operated to effect the collection vof the coins in the coin -boX hopper. A delayed action relay functions, subsequently` to the operation of the coin relay in this manner, to disconnect the coin relay from the local battery and to otherwise restore condition;

It is frequently necessary, during the pendency of a completed connection to the portable coin collector, that the portable unit betransferred from one line outlet to anotherline outlet. .In order that such transfer may be effected without disturbance to .an established connection the present invention contemplates means whereby. a central ofce connection may be held. More particularly, the portable unit is provided with a non-locking hold key which, when operated while the telephone of the portable unit is removed'from its supportserves to place a holding bridge across the central ofce line. Once'estabe lished, this'holding bridge is not disturbed when the telephone is restored to 'its support, or when the portable unit is disconnected from the line, but is vautomatically removedV when the telephone is removed frcmrits support after the portable unit has been connected to the line by way ofv` another line outlet. i

These and other features of the invention'will be readily understood from the following detailed description when read in -connectionwith the accompanying drawing which illustrates, diagram.- matically, a` portable coin collector involvingthe features ofV the invention, and those portions of a rtelephone line and operators cord circuit Ywith Y which the coin collector functions the coingcollector to ,normal .the jack terminal l2 and is provided with'aj'plue connector |4 by means of which the collector is connected to the line L by'wayoffthe multiple jacks.

Automatic com collection overV the windingof marginal relay |5, contact IE'of jack l2, contact |'l vof plug' Ul, both windings of. relay linseries, contact I9 of plug` le, contact'Z of jack i2 to ground. 'Relay i3 is operated in this circuit and 'at its varmature and frontzcontact connects the or relay 2| between ground at the contact'ZB of jack l2 andthe tip conductor 22 of the'coin collector cir-cuit PC. This connection includes the coin 'contacts 23 and the contactv |9-ofl plug |13. Relay `|5,-being marginal, does'notoperate Y at this time. -Thus it -is that the coin-'disposal magnet Y2| is in condition to receivefcoin control signals fromv the central` cnice' in the` usual manner.

When.V the plugv I4 is Withdrawn fromja'ckl2, the operating circuit for relay I8 is lbrokenat 'the jack and :plug contacts. Relay I8 is deenergized 4and releasesV its armature. VVA-'circuit is now completed fromthe negativepole of local lbattery 24,1ba1ck contact andarmature of relay i8, windings of coin disposal magnet 2|, coin vcontacts 23, winding and normally closedl contacts 'of thermal lrelay 25, to the positive pole of batteryi 2d. Coin-disposal .mag-netfZi is energized in this circuit and the' direction of lthe current through itsiwinding isisufch-as to cause it tov collect .the coins. .'Aiter aperiodof `approximately onesecondgfthe contacts of. thethermal -relay 25 will open. .The opening of :these con-r tacts disconnectsv the windings'ofl coin'relay2| from battery, 24 causing .relay'fZi to release. With? the release ofv the coin relay 2| the coin contacts 23 .are opened. .Atera short .interval of` time the contacts .of vthermal* relay 25 Will Vagain close but'n'o further: operations occur as the circuit is now open at the coin contacts23. Thus the coin collector is restoredto its normal conditionywhich; is the condition illustrated in the drawing. :Thus'it is that, should .the portable coincollectorbe disassociated from the telephone line; prior' to?` the :disposal of; '.the .deposited zcoins in the.usual.*manner` theicoinfcollector is automatically olzieratedA :to .effect fthe collection of :the deposited coins.

The portable coin collector unit ern-fcoin disposal magnet, J

On a call incoming over line L, ringing current from the central oilce operates the line ringer '-6 in the well-known manner. If the plug it of the portable coin collector is inserted in any of .the..multiple .jacks V.l2-43. at this time the ringer 121-' of the-'portable'unit is also actuated. Ringing is tripped in the usual manner when ythe switchhoolc of the portable unit is raised.

It will now be assumed that when the call -v arriuedir-the .plug M of the portable coin col- Z"lector-'flied been inserted in the jaclr i2 and tha-tthe .said call-Was answered in the usual manner -loy-r the -party nearest the portable unit. --ItWill beTurther-assumed that the incoming call .is intended for a party other than the party who Y "answered the call' and that the party for whom -VGO thefcall is intended is located near the line outlet i3 which is so far "removed from the outlet .i2 as to require thedisconnection of the portable unitfrom jack |2"a`nd.reconnecting.it to the line by Way of, jack-i3. In'this eventuaiity it is `necessaryj that 'the central 'oli'ce connection be held While the portable imitf is transferred from the locality-identied byjack. l2 to the locality'identiedby'jacki |3. The party who answered the call; therefor, actuates the hold key 29 before the lreceiver is .restored on the portable unitv and before .the plug i4 isrwithdrawn from jack l2.

The operation of hold key`23 short-circuits the lower', high resistance winding oifrelay i8 in the portable unit causing an increase of.currentxin the circuit vwhichincluvzles.ther-winding of marginal relay '|5. Relay 'i5 thereupon operates and removes the shortpcircuitfrom the windings of relays`3 and 3| thereby permitting theserelays to operate in series with relay 35 over the closed subset bridge' inthe portable. unit.

Relay.' 3| at itsleft armature Yand back `contact. opens the" short circuit around relays 3E) and' 3| at a point other 'than the point' at which it was1 opened iby the operation of" relay i5. This is necessary sincev the hold key29 is a nonlocking key andY is -onlybperated momentarily to set upthe holdcondition.

Relays@ .atrits armature and back Contact opensthe short circuitof t-he'lei'tl Windingof relay which was completedby the operation of relay"*35. '.'Abri'dgecircuit is now established extending from the tip conductor of the line L, over .the right armature andront` Contact of relay 3 non-'inductive Winding-3S andleft winding .of relay llto. .the vring conductor of line L. Thusrelayld .operates over. the .lin'efrom battery '45..atlthe centralbilice. jRelayA at. its armature and front.contaotestablishes alocking circuitior itself .independent o'f .the Vright .armaj .turefand front contact of relay `3| sothat relay M-fisheldoperated to -batteryfat the central office. *ll-hef centralA oiee connection` isthus .held by 1the 4bridgeccircuit .awhi-'chwincludes the left winding and: thev 'non-inductive winding of Vrelay 44.

- At this; time, that zf'is,' .priorh tothe restoration of .the-telephone to its mounting on the portable unitl `the :line Lis .alsoibridgedzby a multiple-ich cuitv which" includes the-windings of relays 3l, 30 andv 35 andlthe substation-:bridge The :party "-whoi-ansrfered thefinconiing call, after; 'havingriaotuatedfithe holdkey' 29, restores thetelephoneutofits support on the -.portable;unit. '-his-operatlorrzopens'the; multiple 4.bridge'.'I11str.de scribedfand theconnecticut-isfheld` by the 'bridge Whichuincludes.v the?lei'irWinding:I andi aWindingL-39 this time.

The plug I4 is tion identified by jack I3 and the plug I4 is inserted in this'jack. When thetelephone is now removed from its mounting on the portable unit the bridge 'at the substation is reestablished and relay 35 operates. Relays v3|) and 3| do not operate "at this time since marginal relay I5 is `in its normal unoperatedcondition due to the release of the holdkey 29. The leftwinding of relay 44 is now short-circuited bythe armature and front contact of relay 35 and the armature and back contact of relay 30. Relay V44 thus releases since this relaydoes not hold operated on its noninductive winding 39. With relay v`44 released,

theholding bridge is removed from Vthe line LV and the connection to the portable subset is in l conditionA for'- communication' purposes. Y foutgomgcaz'z AWhen a call is tobe originated by means of the portable substation, the plug I4 is inserted in a conveniently located jack, such. as jack I3; ya coin is deposited in the coin receptaclel of the portable unit; and thetelephone is removed from its support. The

of line L to cause the'operation of a signal (not shown), at the central oince, vin the well-known manner, The call is answered at the central Y cnice in the usual manner.l 'y At the completion'of the call, the operator, or dial central office equipment will collect or refund the coin in the usual manner. In the event of a manually completed call, the collection of coins deposited in the portable coin collector is effected by the operation of the coin collect key-5B." Positive battery. 5| is thus connected to the tip conductorrof the established connection to cause coin relay 2|',- to operate in such a manner as to cause the collection of the deposited coins. Coins are refunded'by the actuation of coin return key 52 which connects negative battery 53 to the'tp conductor of the established connection and causes coin relay 2| to operate in such a manner as to refund the deposited coins.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination in a telephone system of a coin box station, a telephone exchange, a line extending from said exchange to said station and terminating thereat in a jack, a plug connecting said station to said line by way of said jack, coin disposal means at said station, and means comprising a switching relay responsive to the withdrawal of said plug from said jack for completing' an operating circuit for said coin disposal means.

2. The combination in a telephone system of a coin box station, a telephone exchange, a line extending from said exchange to said station and terminating thereat in a jack, a plug connecting said station to said line by way of said jack, coin l disposal means operable in either of two manners to dispose of coins deposited at said station, means at said exchange for operating said coin disposal means in either of two manners, and means including a switching relay responsive to the withdrawal of said plug from said jack for Y now withdrawn from the jacky |`2V and the portable unit is moved to the new locadeposit of a coin in the vcoin receptacle completes a circuit from ground, over causing said coin disposal means to operatefin a` particular manner. ,l

V3. The combination in a telephone system of a coin box-station, a telephone exchange, a line extending from said'exchange to said station and terminating thereat in a jack, a plug connecting said station to said line'by way of vsaid jack, coin disposal means at said station operable `in one.

manner to effect the collection of coinsv deposited at said station and'in vanother manner to refund said coins, means at said exchange. for selectively operating said coin disposal meansin either of two manners, and relay switching means respon'- sive'to the withdrawal of said plug from said'jack i for operating said coin disposal meansto eect the collection oi coins deposited'at said station. 4.' The' combination in a telephone system of a telephone line, a portable coin collector removably connected to said line and including a 'coin' l disposal magnet,- a source of current and switch-y ing' means responsiverto the disconnectionr of said portable coin collector from said line for automatcallyconnecting said Acoin disposal mag. netto said source of current.

5. The combination in a telephone system of a telephone line, a portable coin collector remov-- ably connected to said line and" including a coin' disposal magnet operable in either of two man-- ners to effect either of two distinctivecoin disposal functions, and circuit Hcontrol means responsive to the coin collector from said line Afor 'completing an operating' circuit for said coin 'disposal magnetj whereby said magnet operates in a particular' manner.

s; The combination in a telephone system of a telephone line, a portable coin collector removably cnnected to said line and'inclludingv a coinf disposalmagnet, a `battery, means responsive to the disconnection of said portablecOin collector from said line forconnecting said coin disposal magnet'gto said battery, and means operable aI predetermined time after the connection of said coin disposal magnet to saidbattery for disconnectingA said coin disposal magnetfrorn said batteryyf "1; The, combination in a telephone system of" a telephone line terminating at a remote point in aijack, a plug-ended coin collector connectedV to said line vby way of said` jack, lsaid collector` comprising a source of powerfa coindispos' al magnet, and means y maintaining said coin disposal magnet ydisconnected from said battery, said means functioning automatically in responseto the disconnection of said portable coin collector from said line for connecting said coin disposal magnet to said battery.

8. The combination in a 'telephone system of a telephone line, a jack terminating said line, a

portable coin collector, a plug associated there-V with and inserted in said jack whereby said coin collector is connected to said line, said coin collector including a coindisposal magnet, a battery, means responsive to the withdrawal of said plug from said jack for connecting said coin disposal magnet to said battery, and slow operating means for disconnecting said coin disposal magnet from said battery a predetermined period of time after its connection thereto.

9. The combination in a telephone system of a telephone line extending from a central oiiice toV a remotev point, a portable'coin collector at said remote point including a coin disposal magnet, connecting means for connecting said portable disconnection oi said portablel controlled vover'said'line for assunse;

tants; 'aontdispasalnnagnet, :and abatteryysaidf comi'operatedzeontacts: operating-zinresponsei fato'. 10i` thezfdposit nfa:coin:ins-said:colletorxforA prepare. ing 'as:conneotioni-ifromrsaidbatteryz to; sadxcom disposait', magnetrand i m'eansr: responsive :to the. with'dr'awal:inf:saidiipllig:ionrfsaidy ljack for comv pleting thessadprepared circuit. 1

1115i {Ihefcombinationzinz aiteiephon'e. system of anteephnne; line-foutiet, la coin f collector h'aving aplugwonn'ectedi tofzsaidf outlet; a source fof.. powen. a-ziooinenisposalamagnet.contacts actuatedrby the sponsivle 'ointlyto .the depositeofa afcoin 1in i said i coileetori andftofthefwitlidrawah of -.said;plug` from saidmutietffoir:connectingfsaid-fcoindisposal-:magv net to said battery.

12.L;;The .,combinationinfateiephnesystem :of 25;

aooiniboxsstation; anteiephone exchange, a` line extendingfromfsaidexchange to said 'stationi faAV soume ffglpowexer'fat; saidfr'exchangdfa fsourcef of-r powenrat :said zstation, @ai coin disposal-.-1nagnetY at;

said :stat-ion 'openabie'finf-either f of :two-manners, 30;

maanszat said. exchange .Jorl fselectivelygconneote -V ings said-.cocinedisposalfsmagnet Ain]eeitherspff..twomanners,toithesouroefgrpower:atsaidxohangee. andzmeans at saidfstation :for mausingithe cong-- nection of said coin disposal magnet in a particu,... lai: manner tofthe-sourceof power dat; said station.

. i asteiephoneesystem, at central ,ofceline,

ang-portable 'tel'ephonefsubstationaremoyably :con-- neotedetoisaid line and: includingatelephona; as;

brdgeefor sa-id line; means fresponsivetp the oper.- ationmfesaid holdfkeyg-Whiiefsaidvportable snbsta-- f tion-isaoonneeted-(to saidhliiieiandaivhile theitele 1:1 bene:ftnereof [is removed. 'from. .its support. for i connecting-:saidholdingbridgetmSaidYline, means 45 for locking said holding bridge to said line inde-a pendentiof theconneotion of saidsportableubstation sto .said r,line whereby. said ...portable [substation,may-tbeidisconnectedfrnm. saidline .withbitdgesto said `line, said fkey.; responsive E means.. functioningincident `to fthe. reconnection of. `said,

efconhinatiominffaxtiephone:systemrof 5 g portable-substatiomtosaidlineftmprepare ashort. r

circuitingpath for said locking means, andzmeans.

saiassubstaaon iffromlitsssupport .subsenuentiyf tu the zfreconneotionioIsaid substationiI .to :said line-a fort-.completingthesslrortsoircuitingg-path forfsaid lockingimeansn.

localxsstation; Ya'.portablessubstationg.v at said ilocal Stationensiinezextendingifomf-said:central office` and'.fzterminating.:at .saida'1oca1; .stationl in afplu ralityfofioutletsgmeansfassociatedwith said portablefsubstation frsconnectingfsaidsubstation to saiddinefbysway;.ofaanyofsfsaidioutlets, a.ho1ding 5: bridge lforsaid lineyaiholding key at said -substa`- tionfnormally short-eirouited relaymeansinsaid linefciicuitfreeontroliing the; connection of said holding bridgefto saidfline, meanssresponsivetof the operation .of'said:hdldfkey Whilefsaidportable` substation: isfconneoted-toisaid dine. Ibyway -of one of said outlets andwhile vthe .telephone of said substation is removedfromitssupport for removing:- t11e'ffshortr-- cireuitxf .omatzisaidz relay Kmeans Wherebyzsaidfiioldiiigggbifi-dge Tis fconneoted .toisaid f line,V .jmeans irl-dependent..f of 'athen connection. of

said portable! substation toa-said :line .fordocking said-holdingibridge torsaidlinewherebysaidport..

ablefzsubstationg :may *be disconnected from-fsaid llinenandetiie telephonefthereof;nestored to its supportfswithoutadisturbingghe nonnection of saidv hpldingbri'dge .f-to. said dine, saidsshortf'circuit *.re.-

movingsmeans. beingffadaptedi to=reoperate #to re.

storeethefshoriascircuited .conditionf saidi relay meansfwhenesaidsubstationfis.reconneotedtosaid 351 linea wa ofnneiofesaidiuutlets and: means ,reevponsivef ofthe Aremovalv .ofstlietelephone at said.. substation:fsubsequentlyxtosthe reconnection .fof saidsubstationitcrzsaidiline and'fcooperating with said?reiaygmeansorfshort,orcnitingsaiddocking -x meansywherabmsaidlioldingbridgeisdisconne.ct Y

ed;fromsaidline.

, WALTER?. J ACKMAN.

. REFERENCES" CITED flleofathis '.patentrg; Y Y UNITED S'IATESPATENTS Number'. :Namen ADate .f 

